Valley Woman Sentenced for Social Security Fraud

(AP) — An eastern Nebraska woman has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for Social Security fraud.

U.S. Attorney for Nebraska Deb Gilg says 35-year-old Kimberly Butinski, of Valley, was sentenced Wednesday and ordered to pay restitution of nearly $40,000.

Gilg says Butinski received Social Security disability benefits on her children’s behalf after falsely reporting that she had separated from her husband. Because benefits are based on household income, Butinski received increased payments — nearly $33,000 more than she was entitled to receive.

Gilg says Butinski also received about $7,000 in food stamps and energy assistance she was not entitled to receive.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.